In light of a few things on our collaboration forum, I would like to take a moment and bring the organizations purpose, back to the surface… Why everyone who is involved, is involved. We are currently going through some policy changes, which all organizations have to do at one time or another, or constantly. This makes it really difficult for members to stay on top of. However, since our organization deals directly with Military folks it is IMPERATIVE that our members adhere to our policies. They are there for a reason, and right now, the reason is to stay in compliance with the DoD’s wishes to be able to continue to participate with their beloved military members and families.
While I know that we cannot please everyone, clients, photographers, and members alike, I can tell you that we are honestly doing what we can, addressing issues that are brought to our concern. With light that the world is changing, and as a volunteer program we have to comply to those changes and be willing accept them, but simply put this is a volunteer program.
I know that this organization has had its ups and downs, and I am truly sorry for any disheartening moments, or misinterpretations that I, or others, may have brought on everyone else- to clients and photographers. Many of us are learning as we go… But we must be doing something right, something must be working out just fine, because the emails are still pouring in daily, and for that we should CELEBRATE!
This is a heartfelt organization who GIVES BACK. Our organization is made possible inevitably because of the demand for the service, and then the service happens because of our amazing, giving photographers. The families we serve are contacting us because they need support, they need a friend, they need a shoulder, they need a boost in moral because they can’t kiss their babies goodnight… they are experiencing things and seeing things that tear my soul out, that make me cry in a single thought… And that is why we are where we are. The demand for a friend, for that shoulder- and many, many of our photographers have really broad shoulders!
Sometimes to participate in great things, you have to relinquish other things. For instance, with OpLove to participate as a photographer you have to be willing to relinquish any assumed monetary supplement, a paycheck. Other times we are giving up certain rights as artists to simply protect our clients. This is an organization about selflessness, not selfishness. We help people, help put families together who are separated by the 1000′s of miles between them…
Our photographers are AMAZING people. Many of them will support our families well beyond their OpLove requirements with open arms. Many of them are involved with the military directly, and deployments and such directly affect them too. Anyone in the military, spouse or otherwise, will tell you how very hard it is to raise your kids by yourself for months, or how hard it is for a mother and father to say goodbye to their only son or daughter- any child for that matter. A father will fall apart like a cheap suit at the thought of missing his 1st daughter’s birth, or being on the other line 1000s of miles away with only his voice to calm and attempt to sooth his wife’s agonizing pains through the delivery of their baby. Recently a photographer shot a maternity OpLove session, then her birth and then the homecoming just so this daddy could have something, anything to experience first time fatherhood, because he was unable to physically meet his daughter the day of her arrival. We do AMAZING things for people, and these emotions and thank you’s are “why” you are in this program as a photographer. It isn’t so you can have the chance at a spot in the limelight, or to catch a great story…
Photographers are there to represent the ORGANIZATION and help families, not for self-promotion.
by admin
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